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"District Ten!"
"Here," Clemensia takes the empty posca glass out of her hands, replacing it with a different glass full of amber colored liquor. "It'll numb you more, but don't get messy."
Lucy Gray tore her eyes away from the screen playing the reaping, where the Capitol representative sent to Ten is pulling the boy's slip out of the bowl. Her fingers wrapping tightly around the glass, she brought it up to her lips with a simple nod. She isn't surprised at all to see the serpent like smile on Clemensia's lips. Her eyes looking her over with a amalgamation of amusement, concern, and intrigue.
"Did Coriolanus tell you not to let me get messy?"
"He doesn't have to," Clemensia nods towards the corner of the room. Lucy Gray looks over her shoulder for just a moment. Coriolanus may be deep in conversation with some uppity government official near where he stood with Dr. Gaul and other newly minted gamemakers, but his eyes were on her. Unsurprising.
"He doesn't understand," Her head whips back to the screen at the sound of the girls name. Charbray something. It doesn't matter. She's staring at a ghost of a girl shot to death at the zoo a year before. Or what looks like one. If she was a betting woman she'd win big on that being Brandy's sister. "None of you can."
"Persephone or Festus will give you the next one. Plinth's in too if he ever shows up," Clemensia's eyes dart from her to Coriolanus. "Just don't make us regret conspiring behind his back. You know how he gets with you."
"Like I haven't been in an arena fighting to the death before?"
"District Eleven!" Lucy Gray turned back towards Coriolanus in the corner. Raising an eyebrow and lifting the glass to her lips. He promised not to leave her alone when it got to Twelve.
"Are you telling on me, Baird?!"
"I'm making sure my mentor keeps his promise."
"Can you still call him your mentor if you share a bed?" Clemensia teases.
He finally steps away from the group as the name for the District Eleven girl is called. Crossing the room directly to her, "He was my mentor first. He'll always be my mentor."
"Even when you marry him?"
"That's not anytime soon," She extends her free hand out once he was a few steps away. His fingers instantly intertwining with hers, "Cutting it close, Snow."
"I would have sprinted if necessary," Coriolanus presses a kiss to her forehead, releasing her hand to wrap an arm around her waist instead. "Is Clemmie boozing you up?"
"I'm only saving her from posca she doesn't even like on a hard day."
Lucy Gray took another sip, "It's a mercy if you think about it."
Really, she'd barely got out of bed. He'd literally carried her into the bathroom this morning to shower. Washing her hair for her, wrapping her in a robe so they could begin drying it with the machine. A silent but ever present, only because this is the first, hanging over them. She understood. This year she could be the traumatized victor. Next year there would be another.
Now Coriolanus looking down at her, corners of his lips upturned in amusement, the silent conversation is long gone. Only his fingers messing with the dotted lace of her dress at the waist, "I suppose it is better than trying to get my hands on that contraband liquor you miss so much."
"White liquor?" She'd sobbed a week ago begging him to get her some to get her through the games. "It's not as strong as white liquor. Nothing here is."
He didn't get her any.
"See, Coryo," Clemensia adds with a smirk. "It could be worse."
"Clemmie, weren't you planning on schmoozing today?"
"District Twelve!"
Clemensia doesn't reply, simply drifts away. Lucy Gray's head snaps back to the screen, her body intuitively cuddling close to Coriolanus's. Watching closely as the camera focused in on the Capitol representative sent to pull names for the reaping. Would she know who would be damned to death? Her name hadn't even been on one of those slips last year and while she escaped death some days this gilded cage felt worse.
Coriolanus's arm around her waist tightened as the first name was pulled from the bowl. Not in the possessive way he usually held her at a busy party. It's more akin to the way he pulls her to his chest at night when she cries or has a nightmare. Or how he holds her giving dirty looks to his Grandma'am when she gets too mean. It's intimate. Reserved for the private moments or at minimum less than a crowd of people.
It's a twelve year old boy named Basil who gets reaped. She doesn't know him. Can't remember even seeing him around. Still she brings the amber liquid up to her lips and downs almost half of it in one go.
"Slow," He murmurs right against her ear. "People are staring. You can't let everyone know how bad it can get."
The kiss to the side of her head almost sends her overboard. People are always staring. Who cares if they stare in a rare moment of weakness? Coriolanus does of course, but she couldn't care less. Her life will be easier if she lowers the glass, so she does. Eyes scanning the crowd for familiar faces each time the camera pans to the rest of the district. She can't see them at all though.
Her family is safe for the year. Maude Ivory's too young to have her name in the bowl. Still she knows people. It's a small district, the odds of knowing are higher than not knowing. She doesn't want to look up and see someone she knows walking to their death.
Emogene is the name that's called. She feels her knees weaken at the sight of a girl, a regular at the Hob who liked to dance while the Covey played.
"Coriolanus," Lucy Gray doesn't mean to hiss it. Really. It was just a moment of weakness looking at Emogene walking to the stage, tears streaming down her face.
He lifts her hand up for her, "Do you know her?"
There's an unexpected level of affection in his voice, lips pressing a kiss to her temple. Then again, everyone's eyes keep flicking between her and the screen. He'd be a fool not to comfort her publicly in some way. No one could hear him though.
"She liked to dance when we played, nothing substantial," It's a smaller sip this time. She yearns for more the second she lowers the glass.
"I wish it was a stranger for the first one for you," He looks disappointed as he turns back towards the screen, watching as the broadcast ends. Lucky Flickerman with his mix of commentary and weather duties beginning to play.
"I do too," Lucy Gray tightens her grip on him for just a moment. "Who have you shackled to me while you go butter people up?"
"Lucy Gray, you're entirely capable of being on your own—"
"Who?"
"Persephone. Sejanus was supposed to help but he ditched the viewing party. "
"Lucky him," She rests her chin against his shoulder for just a moment. She wasn't really that upset, usually she had to pretend to be interested on his arm while he schmoozed his way to the top. "You gonna make up abandoning me in my time of need?"
"I'll let you get as drunk as you want at Pluribus's after? With no complaints, even hold your hair back if you get sick tomorrow." The corners of his lips upturned ever so slightly, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Hmm," A weak smile plays on her lips. "And you won't be upset with me if I numb the pain with liquor this year?"
"Not this year. Next year I'm cutting you off," As serious as his tone was, Coriolanus took the moment to kiss her forehead. "I'm serious, Lucy Gray. Next year you're cut off after two drinks every day."
"Is that because you care about my health or what a mess I could cause you?"
"Lucy Gray."
She isn't stupid enough to push back at his tone. A flash of annoyance in his eyes that she even asked, let alone asked where anyone could hear. Words she usually reserved for when they were alone. In their room—there technically was a room for her in the penthouse but she'd never once slept a whole night there— or up in the garden having a moment alone.
"People are gonna notice that frown more than they're gonna hear me murmur a question to you," Her free hand moved to cup his cheek, before pressing her lips against his. Chaste and for show.
Not that all their kisses were, it didn't matter that this was technically her prison, he her warden. All the attraction that existed before she went into the arena was still there, just now they'd been together a year. Or as together as they could be without ever defining it. Not that it mattered really, she knew he viewed her as his. And wasn't she?
In public, like this, it was always an innocent performance, "Both." It's an almost silent answer to her question against her lips, his fingers squeezing into her side.
"Go chat up the rich folk, baby." A quick rub to his cheek as she pulled away. "I'll mind my keepers."
It's what he needs to hear to finally walk away with a final kiss to her head. That she's okay without him in the moment. Turning her head she spots Persephone, flitting about nearby. Speaking to someone she's sure also mentored last year but isn't around enough for her to know the name of. She waits until she sees Coriolanus approach someone across the room before she makes her way towards her.
"I'm betting on Four."
"You do realize you don't have to be loyal to the district you mentored for forever right?"
"It's not about that, Festus and I agreed they look promising."
"Certainly better than—Lucy Gray," She plastered a fake smile at the woman whose name she couldn't remember.
"Oh! Lucy Gray! Sorry, you were still with Coryo last I looked over my shoulder!"
"Don't stress over it," Lucy Gray brought the glass of amber liquid up to her lips again. "Four did look strong."
She'd gotten used to being around the almost too bubbly Persephone Price. Not only just when they went out with his friends, but something akin to double dates they'd gotten in the habit of going on with Persephone and Festus. She was comfortable, familiar now. Enough that she doesn't try to react when Persephone raises an eyebrow at her commentary.
"That's what we thought," Persephone reaches into her small handbag quickly revealing a flask. "I expected you to be empty by now."
"Coriolanus slowed me down," Lucy Gray rolls her eyes, moving her glass closer to Persephone to add to.
"Of course he did," Persephone shares a knowing look with the other woman. "He hasn't gone a day without fretting over you in a year."
"Lest we forget him sending all that water," The woman smirks, more towards Persephone than her. She knows what the woman's referencing of course. Coriolanus told her about the objection when they'd watched her games back. It was the only time Coriolanus got drunk with her. She had to know what people were talking about. What she missed in her hiding. How Panem saw it.
Lucy Gray lifts the glass up in thanks, "If I can make it through the arena I can make it through a viewing party."
She let the bite of the amber liquid push down the thought in her mind that she hadn't actually made it through the arena alone at all. Without his interference she'd be dead. Would that be better?
Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes zeroed in on Coriolanus grinning that fake grin of his as he and Festus spoke to someone she didn't recognize. She hates his fake smile. More so she hates how it makes her glad she's here. That if she wasn't his actual smile might have faded into obscurity. Which made her feel something she hadn't been brave enough to unpack in their year together.
Something too similar to butterflies for her comfort.
She lifted the drink back up to her lips.
Coriolanus makes her eat. Eyes filled with a challenge he knows she won't take, a brash smirk on his lips. She wouldn't dare waste the plate of food in front of her. He would for appearances, but she would not. Barely a year ago they were both starving. Even if she didn't want the plate of finger foods an Avox sets in front of her, the icy blue eyes staring at her from a few feet away wouldn't let her refuse it.
It doesn't matter that she finally just got to the perfect fuzzy feeling of forgetting exactly why they were here. Her eyes locked with his as she picks up a small savory puff, popping it into her mouth.
"It's almost sweet," Persephone interrupts her thoughts. Her head turns back to the other woman with a raise of an eyebrow. "Coryo, sending an Avox over with a plate of food. I'm sure whoever he did it in front of thought it was sweet, but we both know he did it because you're going to get absolutely shit faced tonight."
A ghost of a smirk crosses her lips, "He can't have me being messy here. Might get brave enough to tell someone to stick it where the sun don't shine."
"I doubt he'd be pleased with you being messy at Pluribus's; it'll be busy tonight," Persephone plucks a glass of posca from a passing Avox. "But we can always lock everyone out of the women's bathroom again."
That was a few months after her games. When the crisp fall air was turning into premature snowfall. She'd only had a few drinks that night, getting more comfortable with this group of people who had mentored the other tributes. She really wasn't even sure what happened. She'd been in the conversation, but there was this sudden burst of fear that had her untangling from Coriolanus and practically running for the bathroom. Clemensia and Persephone had followed. Clearing the bathroom, wiping the smeared make up off her face, drying her tears and offering a glass of whiskey for her to sip on as she attempted to calm down.
"We might get banned if we make a habit of it," Lucy Gray takes another bite from the food on her plate.
"Your man will fix it for us if we do, Bell's always liked the Snows."
She pauses at that. Her man. He is as much hers as she is. Well, almost. He can technically control all her movements according to the government. Her—not on paperwork—official jailer. Does that just make her his property?
How dreadful of a fate is that? Or worse; how terrifying that her stupid heart had made her forget the property part until now.
Her eyes dart over to him once again, watching as he speaks with another group. A honey blonde woman who probably went to school with him as well, looking him up and down like he's a piece of meat. Lucy Gray frowns, a twisting jealousy bubbling inside her. He was hers. Everyone knew that. Literally they were practically promoted across the news as a forbidden romance the Capitol had so graciously allowed to flourish. No doubt to the districts it was a propaganda story showing the strength of the Capitol. If she was stuck here, he was stuck with her and only her.
A single step and out of nowhere, Clemensia was breezing by pushing her back two steps, "Absolutely not."
"Clem! I didn't even know you were near," Persephone laughs.
"Figured you'd need my help when Coryo approached the Cardews."
Lucy Gray rolls her eyes, but doesn't protest. She knows better at this point. It probably wasn't Clemensia figuring at all, but Coriolanus sending his closest friend to do his bidding.
"Can't a girl want to make sure everyone knows her man is hers?"
Clemensia rolls her eyes with a huff, but directs a smile at her, "Lucy Gray, I promise you everyone knows your his and he's yours."
"No one will ever forget the victor and her mentor, even after a new tribute is crowned this month," Persephone practically chirps.
"Suspending the mentor program helps that too."
Lucy Gray ate another piece of fruit from her plate, biting back the reply she had. That too many Academy students died and that was crossing the line, but the district kids they sent into the arena to die weren't.
But she already knows the games would have died out if she hadn't performed. Maybe it hadn't been said directly to her, but she's heard enough to know her survival played a role in their success.
"I need more of what ever is in that flask."
"Plinth, you traitor!" Lucy Gray's voice floats through the club, stumbling just a hair as Coriolanus steadys her hips with his hands. Not that she needs it, she isn't that drunk. Yet. It's been hours of pointless mingling she eventually had to join plus she's at least had food. It's these stupid wobbly heels she's been in all day betraying her.
"Lucy Gray, come on, you can't really blame me," Sejanus pouts.
"Oh yes she can," Coriolanus smirks as they approach the booth in the back corner they sat in each time.
"Yes!" Lucy Gray huffs sliding into the booth. "If I had to do it you could have! You went in that arena for what an hour? We could have been drinking the pain away together!"
"Have you been drinking since the reaping?" Sejanus's eyes dart from her to Coriolanus.
"So what if I have, think I get special privileges as the only victor in the Capitol," Lucy Gray flips her hair over her shoulder looking back at Coriolanus with a smirk. "Right, baby?"
Coriolanus rolls his eyes, "Only this year. Will you at least do a glass of something else before your dive straight back into the liquor?"
"As long as it isn't posca."
It does surprise her that he leaves her solely in Sejanus's care as he heads to the bar. His disdain for someone so close to him was really mind boggling. It must surprise Sejanus to from the way his eyes widen.
"What'd he mean by only this year?" Sejanus finally asks, fingers wrapping around the glass in front of him.
"There will be another traumatized victor next year," Her teeth dig into her bottom lip as a shallow replacement for the lack of drink in front of her. "Everyone can turn a blind eye this year, but I'll be old news next."
"It shouldn't—"
"Sejanus, don't please. Argue it in a month but I can't get through the games publicly and at home and deal with this."
It isn't the right answer, but it's the answer that he'll get. This isn't her fight. She's just a caged bird. A pretty ornament.
"I don't know how you can turn a blind eye. I know you love him, but…" Sejanus trails off, his sharp eyes studying her. She turns her head over to Coriolanus at the bar, giving Pluribus one of his genuine smiles as he orders.
Love.
They'd never called it that, but maybe that's what it is.
"It's not about loving him," Lucy Gray turns back looking at Sejanus. "It's about reality. I live here, I don't get to go home ever again. Stopping the games wouldn't change that and I'm not a rebel. I just want to live. I want my family to live."
This, no matter how bleak of a reality it was, is still living.
It strikes a chord. Sejanus is downing his drink in one go shaking his head.
"The boy from Two is Marcus's cousin."
"I think the girl from Ten is Brandy's," Sejanus looks a little blankly. "The one that killed your friend, Arachne."
He sharply inhales, shaking his head, "Do you know the ones from Twelve?"
Coriolanus sets the drinks on the table, two glasses of a red wine. Glaring at Sejanus for the question, "Really, Plinth?"
Lucy Gray plucks one of the glasses with a roll of her eyes, "The girl used to dance at the Hob when The Covey would play."
She hopes they still play without her. She takes a long gulp of the wine at the thought. Coriolanus drapes his arm over her shoulders.
"I'm sorry," Sejanus sighs. "I'm glad it wasn't your family, that they didn't get dragged into it because of…you know."
"Don't be ridiculous, Dr. Gaul isn't going to rig a reaping because I rescued you from the arena," Coriolanus sighs, looking towards the door as if willing everyone else to show up.
She doesn't dare tell him they both know the reaping was already rigged this year. So she takes another drink and leans into his touch, "You should have bought the bottle."
"I did, just asked Bell to hold it so you didn't start drinking straight from it," As annoyed as he sounds there's a hint of a smirk on his lips.
"Plinth!" Persephone Price's voice is less friendly than she'd ever heard as the blonde set her purse on the table. "You ditched us! We had a plan to keep Lucy Gray perfectly numb all day and you ditched!"
"I'm ordering shots," Festus Creed smirks in amusement, as his pats Persephone's hip before walking to the bar.
"Come on," Coriolanus groans.
"Thank you, Creed!" Lucy Gray raises her voice a hair, hoping it carries over the unintelligible arguing going back and fourth between Sejanus and Persephone.
"No buts!" Persephone huffs. "You ditch us for the start of the games we're going to have a problem."
"We're watching the start of the games?!" Lucy Gray frowns looking across at Persephone.
"Watching is a technical term, but we'll walk you back home and tuck you in bed since Coryo will be busy," Clemensia answers as she approaches the table. "I'm not holding your hair back for you when you get sick though."
"Walking?"
"We'll watch across the street at my place," Persephone offers a gentle smile. "Clem! Festus is ordering shots, go tell him you're here so Coryo can't give you his."
"Hey!" Coriolanus rolls his eyes, leaning down to murmur against Lucy Gray's ear. "Do not eat any meat at Persephone's."
She's drunk. Vision starting to blur, body buzzing kinda drunk. At some point she moved to Coriolanus's lap, his hands holding her against him as they rhythmically move up and down her sides.
For the first time all day, she feels okay. She feels safe, in his arms. Nothing is coming. All she knows is that he'll never let anyone hurt her. Not that anyone would here, but it's like she never left the arena sometimes.
"Do you want to go home?" His voice is gentle against her ear.
"Are you gonna keep touching me like this when we get home or are you gonna tell me I'm too drunk?" She slurs. She knows she slurs it. Not even the quiet whisper could hide the tell tale sign of how inebriated she was.
"Lucy Gray," Coriolanus huffs a laugh. She knows he's slightly annoyed, but at least she was amusing him. "I'm probably going to have to carry you home you're so drunk. You're not even getting the most chaste good night kiss."
"That's not very nice of you," She pouts, closing her eyes for a minute. "Abandoning me in my time of need?"
"I'm abandoning you, by not taking advantage of the fact that you want to sleep with me when drunk?" He's smirking. She can't see it, but she can feel it from where her head was resting against his.
"Yes, it's rude."
Coriolanus left her in bed bright and early that morning. He woke her, kissing all over her face as he whispered quiet apologies that he wouldn't be with her while the games played. Shallow promises to make it up to her. She isn't sure she cares about him making it up to her. Can he even make this up to her?
She couldn't sleep after he left. Instead watching the sunrise through the window. Twenty three kids would never see the sunrise again. She went for the wine at that thought dressing for the day slowly. Like she was going to war.
Tigris didn't say anything when she came in to check on her, although she saw the look of pity in her eyes when Tigris walked through the door to see her sitting in one of Coriolanus's button ups over the loose summer dress she had on.
Clemensia did say something when she knocked on the door. Frowning at her with a quick, "Absolutely not, just because it's just us at Persephone's doesn't mean it's just us as we walk across the street."
Pulling a different dress out and brushing her hair for her. Leading her across the street and to the Price's apartment, where Festus placed a glass of amber liquid in her hands as soon as she walked through the door.
That's what she tries to think about as she sits on the floor, back to the couch, staring at the screen as the clock ticks of the final sixty seconds before the program will begin. She takes a long sip, reaching for the bottle they'd sat on the coffee table in front of the couch, filling the glass up more.
"Why no Lysistrata?" She isn't sure why the question didn't come sooner, but she looks between Clemensia to her left and Persephone to her right. Both on the floor shoulder to shoulder with her. Sejanus and Festus on the couch giving each other uneasy looks without their mutual buffer of Coriolanus between them.
"She volunteered medically for the tributes," Clemensia answers fingers tapping her own drink. "She made sure no one had rabies this year, now she's the mortician essentially."
All she can see is Jessup falling in her head as she lifts the glass back up to her lips.
"That's kind."
Another word isn't spoken until the countdown begins.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
Lucy Gray lifts the glass up to her lips and drinks until it burns too much.
Seven. Six. Five.
So much she's almost throwing up into the glass. Persephone taking it from her hand to set on the table.
Four. Three. Two.
It's almost funny how they all care for her, she remembers the confused looks. The ones that couldn't figure out why she was possibly in the Capitol still. Funny how much can change in a year.
One.
Or a second.
She picks the drink back up as the rush to the cornucopia begins. Floating some place between clenching her eyes shut then opening them up immediately. Only to regret it after she did.
"Lucy Gray, do not open your eyes," Sejanus voice is firm from behind her.
There's a scream. Then the annoyingly carefree commentary from Lucky Flickerman.
"Oooh looks like District Twelve is burnt out. Guess our favorite songbird wasn't a sign of changing tides…or coal."
Lucy Gray lifts the glass to her lips, embracing the burn. Praying it numbs her even if it can't stop the silent tears that started falling down her cheeks.
"When's Coryo coming home?"
"When Gaul releases him from his duties," Lucy Gray turned her head from the screen to Tigris as she lifted the bottle of wine up to her lips. He hadn't been granted the luxury of coming home yesterday until the early hours of the morning. Wrapping his arms around her and only a few hours later kissing the side of her head as he left again. Not a word spoken between them. "We're going to fight when he gets home."
They don't fight like normal couples. There's barely a few moments of yelling at each other before it turns physical. Not in a violent way. Though she isn't sure there's a gentle way to push someone against the wall while you angrily make out with them.
It's a grounding sort of fighting. She can get out her frustrations for a moment, a few moments of reprieve from this facade and cage she's had to embrace to survive. Then they both get off knowing there's rarely something to actually resolve.
"About the fact that it's the only thing playing on every channel?"
"And that he didn't even bother to warn me."
This one will have something to resolve though.
"Thanks for the heads up, I'll make myself sparse. Try and convince Grandma'am to go up to the garden if it isn't the middle of the night."
"Please, she'll think I'm trying to push her off." Not that she hadn't thought about it on her worst days. She's killed far more innocent people.
"Lucy Gray, we don't have to watch."
"Festus and Persephone are rooting for Four," Her eyes narrow on the redhead on the screen. What would she know about a good victor? She poisoned her way out. Coriolanus cheated twice to save her. "What do you think?"
Tigris stares at her for a long moment before answering, "She's brave, seems really fearless."
"No one is fearless, Tigris."
"You could have fooled me."
Lucy Gray just picks up the bottle of wine and shakes her head, "I haven't been sober since the reaping out of fear."
"You're allowed a lapse this year, but normally…all this…the cards you've been dealt. I think you're fearless for that."
She takes a longer sip, willing Coriolanus to get home sooner so she could scream.
"Lucy Gray," Coriolanus places a hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her awake. Her eyes flutter open immediately. Hand still gripping the bottle of wine she'd sat down on the floor in front of the tv with after dinner. Her body aches, so does her head, but not as much as her neck from how she fell asleep on her own arm.
"Shit," She murmurs sitting up quickly, before relaxing under his gaze. "Hi, how late is it?"
"Only quarter past ten," He hums, kissing her hello like it's second nature. It's the earliest he's been home since the games began five days ago. She waited up the second night, mostly to fight with him. It'd backfired when she woke them both with a nightmare of her own arena. Whatever alcohol left in her system unable to numb her in her sleep.
She isn't sure which of them looks more exhausted.
"Did you eat?" Her hand released the half empty bottle of wine, lifting to brush his hair back.
"Did you?" He counters, fingers rubbing against the fabric of her dress.
"Tigris placed a plate in front of me against my will earlier," She rolls her eyes. "I made her stand in front of the tv until I finished."
"You don't have to watch, darling," It's soft. Almost too soft to be said outside the four walls of their bedroom.
Her eyes meet his, searching him of reassurance like he so often does her. Begging for a place to land. It's barely audible when she does answer, "I can't look away."
Coriolanus catches her hand in his lifting it to his lips, placing barely there kisses to her finger tips. "Do you want to finish the bottle before bed?"
Lucy Gray raises an eyebrow, "Thought you didn't like my drinking."
"I hate it. If you do it next year there will be serious consequences, but I can't guarantee I'll be here when you have a nightmare." The sharpness of his words immediately juxtaposing the end of his sentence. "So we can have a night cap if you think it'll numb you enough where you aren't left screaming in bed alone."
It's so hard to figure him out. Her lover. The way he balances perfection and ambition with his adoration of her. He wouldn't dare prioritize her above his goals, but somehow resented not being able to fix her probelms and take care of her at the same time.
"Should I pour you a glass then?"
Coriolanus looks at the bottle then her, reaching forward to lift it with a smirk, "Not sure I trust your pours right now."
A weak laugh escapes her lips as she rises from the floor. Twisting her body to stretch the muscles that had cramped in her odd positon.
"Come hold me in our bed," She tugs on his hand.
When it became Our she isn't even sure. Maybe when the money came in and the larger bedrooms repaired. The old twin sized bed in his childhood bedroom ditched for a bed large enough for them both, in a larger room connected to it's own bathroom. That'd been a month or two after her games.
His Grandma'am had thrown a fit. Calling her every insult the old woman could think of. Coriolanus had just rolled his eyes only repeating the sentence he'd started echoing everywhere. "If the Covey weren't from the Districts. Where else could they be from?"
Lucy Gray didn't bother to correct him, like she hadn't in public every time she'd heard him say it before. His mind was already made up.
She watches as Coriolanus takes a tentative swig of the wine bottle before standing up. Placing it back in her hand reaching out for it, "Better than posca."
She lifts the bottle up to her lips almost immediately as they make their way down the hall, "When you're president I don't ever want to see another glass of posca."
A hint of a grin crosses his lips, though it only indicates how tired he is, "Really? That bad."
"It's like drinking perfume."
Coriolanus pushes through the door of their bedroom with a shake of his head, "You aren't wrong. "
She doesn't waste a second, taking a long sip of the wine before setting the bottle on the bedside table. Her fingers absentmindedly going to the buttons of her dress. Eyes watching as he undresses through the small mirror that sat on the desk in the corner. It doubled as a vanity when she needed it. He'd always remind her that it was just for now. That one day they wouldn't need to priortize buying furniture or food. Another hit to his pride that he couldn't give her everything immediately. Not that she wanted everything.
"Why'd she let you go so early tonight?" It leaves her lips before she realizes, throwing the button up of his she'd slept in all week over head.
"The games will probably end tomorrow."
It's careful, but her head turns to meet his eyes from across the room and she already knows the answer. Dr. Gaul will ensure the games end tomorrow.
She lifts the bottle of wine taking another long swig, as she sat on the bed with her knees, "My snakes?"
Despite wanting to pull the bottle right back to her lips she extends it out to him instead. Studying his face as he lifts it to his and takes a sip larger than she expected, "No."
"Okay," She tries not to deflate as he puts the almost empty bottle of wine in her hands. His own pulling her into his lap to hold her close.
"We'll have to go to parties tomorrow evening," His lips press to the side of her head. "They'll ask you to sing."
"Will there actually be a question?" She scoffs lifting the bottle once again, resisting how heavy her body had become to feel. How safe she finally felt in his arms.
"You can tell them no tomorrow."
"But not the next time, right?" She already knows the answer but she still asks. Letting herself cuddle closer into him.
"It's important, darling."
It's necessary is what he really means. She knows it, but she doesn't really want to listen to why. Choosing instead to lift herself up and kiss him deeply. Deeper than she has all week, exlcuding their fight. She lets him take the bottle of wine out of her hands and push her back onto their bed.
"This is important too."
She hadn't even gotten out of bed when the phone had rang, Coriolanus telling her the games would probably be over by the end of the afternoon. Asking her to come sit in the viewing room. At least be in the same building so he could get to her sooner.
Lucy Gray knows what that means. It's like a request to sing. Not a request.
Tigris pours liquor in her coffee and curls her hair, sets a mauve dress out for her to wear. Even more she holds her hand as they walk arm and arm into the viewing area. Settling in a spot near the door. She doesn't want to actually watch.
It doesn't surprise her at all when Clemensia, Festus, and Persephone join them shortly after with to go coffees. Hers is the smallest amount of coffee ever, mostly liquor.
She drinks the liquor through the coffee cup as the new victor is decided.
"Your singing and the snakes was way better," Festus shrugs.
Lucy Gray just lifts an eyebrow, "I was singing my own funeral song."
"But no one looked away!"
She remembers Coriolanus telling her that. How he used the way she captivated the audience to get her out of the arena. Would she have just died there if not? The snakes wouldn't have attacked what would have happened?
"How long do you think it'll take?" Tigris asks. "How long was it for you?"
"I don't know," She sinks back into the seat looking around at the celebratory room. "Did you guys place money on Four?"
Persephone looks over at her with a raised eyebrow, "Festus and me?" Lucy Gray nods. "I didn't."
"I put like two bucks as a joke," Festus shrugs.
"You were both right. It was the girl from Four." She remembers her own girl from Four dying and takes a long sip of the liquor.
It takes an hour before Coriolanus finally walks into the emptying hall. His steps swift and direct. Right to her.
"How's our victor?" She isn't sure why she asks. She doesn't ignore the odd looks everyone gives her when she does.
Coriolanus simply smirks taking the coffee cup of liquor away from her, "Alive. Well."
Better than she had been a year ago.
"Cutting me off, baby?" She smirks, standing up to kiss him hello.
His arm wrap around her waist, bringing the coffee cup up to his lips, "Full stop tomorrow. Tonight it'd look awful if you were sober."
"Slow," Lucy Gray places the glass of amber liquid on the table. "Everyone's watching."
It felt wrong to use Coriolanus's words, but what else could she say to the traumatized victor of the Eleventh games. Nothing would be right. Besides, it's better to know early.
Mags looks at her skeptically, studying the rose red gown she wore—of course, made by Tigris. She didn't say anything, but took the glass and lifted it to her lips.
"It's easier to play it up for them, the cameras. Safer for the folks back home, you know?"
"Did they send you to threaten me?"
Lucy Gray frowns, "No, can't imagine they'll be happy I'm even talking to you about this. May I?"
Mags looks at the seat next to her that Lucy Gray motioned to, "Do I get to ask you questions in return?"
"Be my guest," Lucy Gray settled into the seat next to her. "Who'd you speak to after the arena?"
A sardonic huff is enough of an answer, but she still waits for the words she expects, "Your pretty Capitol boyfriend. Told me I'd need to stay through a victory party then I would go home until the victory tour. Surprised you didn't do one of those."
"I'm not allowed to leave the Capitol," She isn't entirely sure why she said it. "My mentor turned boyfriend keeps me safe here, but no one was supposed to make it out of my arena."
Something she said must have hit a nerve, as Mags features soften just a hair, "You went from one arena to the next."
"Think we all do," Lucy Gray shrugs. She wasn't about to get emotional with this traumatized victor in a crowded room at the Presidential Palace. "Have you been able to sleep?"
"Barely."
"I'll see if we can send you back with sleep syrup. If you're able to, it's easier not sleeping alone."
"You're his captive, but you still willingly go to him?"
"For both of our sakes don't ever say that again."
Mags frowns, picking the glass up to take a slow sip, "You just said you can't leave the Capitol."
"That has little to do with the motivations of my relationship. Can you eat without getting sick?"
"Only after the last two days. I was asked that earlier by the woman who dressed me."
"Tigris? She's a saint, knows exactly what it's like for a victor."
"She's too kind for the Capitol."
"You'll find some people here are just as good as those you know back home."
"Next you're going to tell me you actually love your gamemaker boyfriend," Mags smirks with a rebellious glint in her eyes.
Lucy Gray glances at the amber liquid as she sighs, "He isn't a monster."
"You do love him," The glint is gone, instead replaced with a mixture of disgust and distrust.
"And you keep reliving your kills, right? When I remember the deaths he kisses my fingers and holds me close."
And reminds her that they did it together. Her deaths are his. They're both the victors. That he'd do it all again.
"What about your family?"
"Lucy Gray?" Coriolanus's voice is firm, somewhere between curious and upset. She turns towards the direction of his voice. He looks like a perfect Capitol gentleman standing just a few feet away. A hint of a faux pleasant smile, she knows his fake ones better than his real, contrasting with the stormy look in his eyes. Two glasses of posca in hand. "I thought you were still speaking with Ma."
It's careful. How he worded it. To just her it's always Sejanus's Mother or Mrs. Plinth. He doesn't seem to want the newest victor to know it's not his mother.
She doesn't frown, but she doesn't smile either. Choosing instead to extend her hand out towards him, "She needed to speak to a woman about a pressing matter with the school board."
It isn't completely a lie, Ma Plinth had gone to speak to a woman on the topic. Only after she'd stupidly vocalized her wishes to speak to Mags. She isn't stupid enough to lie to Coriolanus when he's looking at her like that, when she's sure Dr. Gaul is somewhere near here ready to ask her about her cage in stupid rhyme.
Coriolanus sets the glass of posca in her hands, raising an eyebrow as if to dare here to object to the sweet wine after her bender during the games. His gaze drifts to the amber liquid Mags clung tightly to. He'd packed all the liquor in the Penthouse up when they returned home from the celebrations the night the games ended. Her amnesty revoked. "Who had the flask tonight?"
"Festus," Lucy Gray lifts the posca to her lips. "Don't worry, baby. I just wanted to be a good mentor to the newest victor."
There's a flash of recognition in his eyes, before they twist into a look that unsettles her. A fear that she gave him a terrible idea bubbles inside her. Coriolanus lifts his free hand to cup her face, thumb rubbing against her cheekbone. Eyes searching hers like they do when she has a nightmare or he's looking for her reassurance. She can never tell if he gets what he's searching for.
Instinctively, Lucy Gray places a hand over his. Fingers slotting between his as his lips brush against the top of her head, "You should take her advice," It takes her a moment to realize he isn't speaking to her, but to Mags. "My Lucy Gray is the only example you have to look toward."
That did not bode well. She doesn't let her lips form into the frown she feels tugging at the corners. Instead plastering her perfect performing smile, aware of the eyes.
"Lucy Gray's advice has been particularly helpful already," She can can feel Mags's eyes on them. Not that she can see, with Coriolanus holding her firmly. Her eyes settle on Clemensia glancing over at them from across the room, then back to another corner. Keeping watch.
There's only one person to keep watch for. Dr. Gaul.
"It was only right," Lucy Gray squeezes his hand ever so slightly, trying to get him pull back. "It'd be impolite to pass the baton without a word, don't you think?"
She finally feels his fingers twine with hers, dropping first as he takes a step back. Her eyes settle on him, before even turning to Mags she knows there'd been a silent battle between the two. One she isn't entirely sure is over as she sees the steely look in Mags eyes.
"Still," Coriolanus starts tugging on her hand ever so slightly. " We should give our congratulations and be on our way. I believe Dr. Gaul will be headed this way for her latest victor soon. The Energies Secretary held her up."
Lucy Gray's eyes lock with his as soon as Gaul's name left his lips. Watching the pointed way he mentioned who was speaking with the wicked doctor. Clemensia's father. A cover for her. She doesn't hesitate after that, rising from the chair. His hand releasing hers to wrap around her waist instead pulling her to him.
"Congratulations again, Ms. Flanagan," Coriolanus's perfect fake grin on his lips as he speaks. She hates it.
Her eyes dart back at the redhead, who studied her more now than she had before. She can only imagine what she sees. A traitor who loves her captor.
"Remember what I said," Lucy Gray keeps her voice steady, face vacant of any emotions. "Take care of yourself, Mags."
Mags lifts the glass to her lips, defiantly downing the rest in one go as Coriolanus led her further into the crowd.
"What did you tell her?" His lips right against her ear like it's a sweet nothing, not a sharp whisper.
"To drink slow," Lucy Gray hums. She can practically feel the tension leaving his body at her answer. "Everyone's watching."